What do The Dukes of Hazzard, Lizzie McGuire, and Van Helsing have in common? All of them have scenes that were filmed at Paramount Ranch in Conejo Valley. Yes, Paramount as in Paramount Pictures, which was founded in 1912 as The Famous Players Film Company, making it the second oldest film studio in the United States. There’s a LOT of history at Paramount Ranch.

On a recent weekend getaway to Conejo Valley, I had the chance to go horseback riding at Paramount Ranch and it’s such a cool destination for outdoor adventure and for film buffs! This gorgeous ranch is less than an hour from Los Angeles, so you can visit it on a day trip from LA or include it in your weekend escape to Conejo Valley.

What is Paramount Ranch?

Today, Paramount Ranch is a National Park Service site in Agoura Hills. As part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, it’s the only property managed by the National Park Service that is dedicated to the creation of tv shows and movies. Paramount Studios leased this ranch way back in the 1920s and since then, the ranch has served as a shooting location for dozens of films and TV shows which were set in far-off places like Massachusetts, China, and a South Seas Island, among others.

Just a few of the movies and shows filmed at Paramount Ranch include:

Westworld
The X-Files
Firefly
Van Helsing
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
American Sniper
The Great Outdoors
Gunfight at the O.K.Corral
Helter Skelter

Some pretty big Hollywood names have spent time at Paramount Ranch! It was also the home of Paramount Raceway, a short-lived racetrack that proved to be too dangerous for racing.

At some point in the 1950s, an investor pieced together some old sheds and buildings to form Western Town, which was a huge draw for tourists and travelers as it was featured in many Western films. Sadly, the Woolsey Fire destroyed most of the Western Town buildings in 2018, but there are plans to rebuild in the future and cleanup is already underway.

Visiting Paramount Ranch

As public land, the ranch is open to the public, even when crews are shooting films here. There are hiking trails, mountain biking trails, and horseback riding, and it’s dog friendly. Set in the beautiful hills above Malibu, Paramount Ranch is less than an hour from Los Angeles and makes a great destination while visiting Conejo Valley.

Horseback Riding at Paramount Ranch

Within Paramount Ranch and the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, there are more than 500 miles of horse trails and even equestrian campgrounds for overnight trips. Fortunately, you don’t have to have your own horse to go horseback riding at Paramount Ranch. There’s a local outfitter that rents horses and gives horseback tours of the ranch.

Malibu Riders offers several local trail rides, both in Malibu and at Paramount Ranch. The ride at Paramount Ranch is about an hour long and covers a three-mile loop through the open space surrounding the ranch. There are streams running throughout the ranch, and the horses love to stop and cool off with a splash and a drink. You might even get to see coyotes, bobcats, or deer along the way, as this is an unofficial wildlife refuge. It’s pretty common to see birds and butterflies, too!

Riding a horse through Paramount Ranch makes you feel like a movie star in an old-time Western movie. It’s such a unique experience, and you don’t even need any riding experience to join one of the guided tours.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

While this entire area is managed by the National Park Service, there are no fees to use these public lands, unless you are camping overnight. Aside from Paramount Ranch, there is a lot to see in the National Recreation Area, which is all the more reason to make this a weekend getaway rather than a day trip from LA!

In addition to the ranch, check out some of these other sites within the Santa Monica Mountains:

Cheeseboro and Palo Camado Canyons have several trails for hiking and mountain biking, including Simi Peak.
Circle X Ranch is a former Boy Scout camp tucked in the hills above Malibu, with trails and wildlife sightings
Peter Strauss Ranch is named for the Hollywood actor and features an amphitheater that hosts an annual concert series every summer.

Getting to Paramount Ranch

The beauty of visiting Paramount Ranch is the easy access from Los Angeles. It sits between Highway 101 and the Mulholland Highway, near other gorgeous destinations like the Mulholland Highway Scenic Drive, Malibu Lake, and Malibu Creek State Park.

Visiting Paramount Ranch in Conejo Valley